This is one of the biggest slates for movies directed by women in weeks. As you read down, keep in mind that some of the theatrical releases start on a limited scale. This is noted for each, but can mean a film opens in up to 599 theaters in the U.S., which is still pretty accessible. For smaller or international films, though, it might mean only a handful of theaters with a wider expansion in future weeks.
A few, like Ishana Shyamalan’s “The Watchers”, will probably still be available pretty quickly. And since resources are often late to update, I wouldn’t be surprised if its limited release were actually a wide one that just hasn’t been listed yet. And of course, films by women are much less likely to get wide releases out of the gate because the industry refuses to learn things that would grant it greater stability.
Some readers might get access to a limited release in their neighborhood this week, and some might have to wait longer. It’s hard for audiences to keep track of the films that don’t get as much industry support, and since women filmmakers tend to get less industry support, that means it becomes harder to keep track of films by women that aren’t immediately available to you. So bookmark, write it down, favorite the trailer, make a tickety tok or skibidi bobbidi-boo or whatever those dang kids do nowadays, but make sure the film that piques your interest today stays on your radar because the film industry will do unfortunately little to make sure it does.
New series by women this week are from the U.K. and the U.S. New movies by women come from Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and the U.S.
NEW SERIES
The Acolyte (Disney+)
showrunner Leslye Headland
half-directed by Hanelle M. Culpepper, Leslye Headland
The newest Star Wars entry takes place in the High Republic Era, or a few hundred years before the events of the nine main Star Wars films. In “The Acolyte”, the Jedi are at the height of their influence, but a serial killer is targeting them one by one. Amandla Stenberg, Dafne Keen, Lee Jung-jae, and Carrie-Anne Moss star.
Creator, writer, and showrunner Leslye Headland also did all three jobs on “Russian Doll”. She directs two episodes here. Hanelle M. Culpepper directs another two. She’s also helmed on Star Treks “Discovery” and “Picard”, as well as “Big Sky”, and “Westworld”.
The two-episode premiere of “The Acolyte” is on Disney+. A new episode arrives every Tuesday for a total of 8.
Clipped (Hulu)
showrunners Nina Jacobson, Gina Welch
In 2014, news broke of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist comments to his extramarital girlfriend. As the team collapsed from the inside out, the NBA banned Sterling from his own team and forced him to sell it. Journalist Ramona Shelburne would later interview many of the key figures involved on an ESPN podcast called “The Sterling Affairs”. “Clipped” is based on her work.
Laurence Fishburne stars as head coach Doc Rivers, Ed O’Neill as Donald Sterling, and Jacki Weaver as wife Shelly Sterling.
Creator and showrunner Gina Welch also wrote and produced on “Under the Banner of Heaven”, “Castle Rock”, and “The Terror”. Nina Jacobson produced on “American Crime Story” and “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes”.
The two-episode premiere of “Clipped” is on Hulu. A new episode drops every Tuesday for a total of 10.
Queenie (Hulu)
showrunner Candice Carty-Williams
directed by Joelle Mae David, Makalla McPherson
Queenie is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman in London who feels caught between two cultures. She doesn’t need to find herself so much as find the people who will accept who she already is.
Candice Carty-Williams writes and showruns the series based on her own novel. Joelle Mae David and Makalla McPherson direct
All 8 episodes are out on Hulu starting tomorrow, Friday June 7.
NEW MOVIES
Late Bloomers (in theaters)
directed by Lisa Steen
Louise is a 28-year-old Brooklynite who drunkenly breaks her hip. In the hospital, she meets Antonina, an elderly Polish woman who speaks no English. Though they don’t get along at first, Louise takes the job of caring for Antonina. Karen Gillan and Malgorzata Zajaczowska star.
This is the feature-length debut for director Lisa Steen and writer Anna Greenfield.
“Late Bloomers” sees a limited release in theaters starting tomorrow, Friday June 7.
Tuesday (in theaters)
directed by Daina Oniunas-Pusic
A mother and her chronically ill daughter confront Death, who arrives as a shapeshifting, talking bird. Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars.
The A24 fable is written and directed by Daina Oniunas-Pusic in her feature debut.
“Tuesday” has a limited release in theaters starting tomorrow, Friday June 7.
The Watchers (in theaters)
directed by Ishana Shyamalan
Mina is an artist who becomes stranded in an Irish forest. She finds three other strangers trapped there. They can go out during the day, but lock themselves in at night, when the creatures come to look and applaud. Dakota Fanning stars.
Ishana Shyamalan is the daughter of lauded and lampooned horror director M. Night Shyamalan. This is her first feature film as director and writer – though she did write and direct on well-received series “Servant”.
“The Watchers” sees a limited release starting tomorrow, Friday June 7.
Banel & Adama (in theaters)
directed by Ramata-Toulaye Sy
A Senegalese couple try to justify their relationship despite the disapproval of their remote village.
This is Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s third feature film as writer (after “Sibel” and “our Lady of the Nile”), and first as director.
“Banel & Adama” sees a limited release in theaters starting tomorrow, Friday June 7.
Basma (Netflix)
directed by Fatima AlBanawi
In this Saudi film, a woman returns from studying abroad, wrestling with cultural differences and uncovering her father’s hidden mental health struggles.
Director Fatima AlBanawi is trained in the topic, with a degree in counseling psychology and Masters in theological studies specializing in women, gender, and Islam. Her 2016 film “Barakah Meets Barakah” is about a cross-class romance and highlights how women had more equality only two generations prior. It was Saudi Arabia’s second entry ever for Best Foreign Language Film at our Oscars.
“Basma” is out on Netflix.
I.S.S. (Paramount +, Showtime)
directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
When war breaks out on Earth, the U.S. and Russia send orders to their crew aboard the International Space Station: take the station at any cost. Ariana DeBose and Chris Messina star.
Gabriela Cowperthwaite was previously nominated for a BAFTA for her documentary “Blackfish”, about the captivity of orca in aquarium theme parks. “I.S.S” is her third foray into narrative filmmaking after “Megan Leavey” and “Our Friend”.
“I.S.S.” is out on Paramount+ and Showtime.
What Comes Around (AMC+, Hulu)
directed by Amy Redford
An online love affair reveals an older man targeting a family’s daughter. He begins to stalk and harass the girl’s family over their resistance.
Amy Redford has directed on “Law and Order: SVU” and produced on “The Lincoln Project”.
“What Comes Around” is out on AMC+ and Hulu tomorrow, Friday June 7.
Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything (in theaters)
directed by Emily Atef
This German film depicts former East Germany in 1990 during reunification. Maria is a 19-year-old woman who lives with her boyfriend and his parents. She falls for a 40-year-old farmer living on the next farm over.
Emily Atef directs and co-writes. She’s also directed on “Killing Eve”.
“Someday We’ll Tell Each Other Everything” is out in limited release tomorrow, Friday June 7.
Cold Copy (Netflix)
directed by Roxine Helberg
A journalism student manipulates a story in a bid to impress a news reporter she idolizes. Bel Powley and Tracee Ellis Ross star.
This is the first feature from writer-director Roxine Helberg.
“Cold Copy” is out on Netflix.
Clickbait: Unfollowed (Tubi)
directed by Katherine Barrell, Melanie Scrofano
A group of influencers are invited to a competition, only later realizing it’s a deadly trap.
Aside from starring, directors Katherine Barrell and Melanie Scrofano also direct. They’re best known for their lead roles in “Wynonna Earp”. Scrofano’s directed on “Wynnona Earp” and “SurrealEstate”, while Barrell premiered as a director with last year’s “Flipping for Christmas”.
“Clickbait: Unfollowed” is out on Tubi tomorrow, Friday June 7.
Take a look at new shows + movies by women from past weeks.
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Gabriel Diego Valdez 